The leader of a coup in the West African nation of Guinea won a landslide victory in a presidential election meant to legitimize his rule, according to results on Wednesday. The vote took place more than four years after he seized power and tightened his grip on the country.
The winner, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, who barred his main challengers from taking part in the race, secured more than 80 percent of the vote in the election, which took place on Sunday, according to provisional results from a government-controlled agency he set up to oversee the election.
The election took place after Colonel Doumbouya dissolved the independent body responsible for conducting the election and prevented key opponents from running against him.
At least three opposition figures have publicly conceded defeat, but Abdoulaye Yéro Baldé, who was seen as the strongest among eight candidates allowed to run, said on Wednesday that he was mobilizing a legal team to challenge the results in court. He accused the Doumbouya government of fraud and intimidating voters.
“The margin is really huge,” said Mr. Baldé, who placed second with only 6 percent of the votes, compared to Colonel Doumbouya’s 86 percent share. “It’s not the reality. It’s impossible.”
